Quick 15-Minute Caprese Chicken Skillet
A fast and flavorful skillet dish featuring chicken breasts topped with fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil, and a balsamic glaze. Perfect for a quick, impressive weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz or 170 g each), thin-cut or butterflied
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (about 150 g), halved
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella (115 g), sliced or torn
- A handful fresh basil leaves, torn
- 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes for heat
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Warm until shimmering but not smoking.
- Add the chicken breasts and cook for 4-5 minutes on one side without moving to develop a golden-brown crust. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until nearly cooked through.
- Push the chicken to one side of the skillet. Add minced garlic and halved cherry tomatoes to the empty side. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes soften and garlic is fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- Place slices of fresh mozzarella over each chicken breast and sprinkle torn basil leaves on top. Reduce heat to low and cover the skillet to let the cheese melt gently for about 2 minutes.
- Drizzle balsamic vinegar around the chicken in the pan. Let it bubble for 1-2 minutes to reduce slightly and create a light glaze. Optionally, sprinkle red pepper flakes now.
- Remove from heat once the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use thin-cut chicken breasts or butterfly thicker breasts for faster cooking. Avoid overcrowding the skillet to ensure a good sear. Let chicken rest 10-15 minutes before cooking for even cooking. If balsamic vinegar starts to burn, lower the heat. Cheese melts best under a lid or foil tent. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat gently to preserve cheese texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 40
Keywords: Caprese chicken, quick dinner, skillet recipe, easy chicken recipe, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, balsamic glaze, basil, weeknight meal